The Texas General Land Office (GLO) has offered President-elect Donald Trump a 1,400-acre ranch in Starr County, Texas, near the U.S.–Mexico border, for the construction of deportation centers. Commissioner Dawn Buckingham extended the offer in a letter dated November 19, stating the land could be used for processing, detention, and coordinating mass deportations of violent criminals. The land, recently acquired by the state, is about 35 miles west of McAllen, Texas, and was purchased with the intention of building a 1.4-mile border wall after the landowner refused permission for such a structure.
Buckingham reiterated Texas’s commitment to securing the border and supporting federal immigration agencies in their efforts. During his 2024 campaign, Trump promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, citing a record surge in unauthorized crossings and other associated issues. Trump selected Tom Homan as his “border czar” to oversee deportations and border security.
Trump’s mass deportation plan has faced opposition from some Democratic governors, including Maura Healey of Massachusetts and JB Pritzker of Illinois, who vowed not to cooperate. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs also expressed concerns but indicated willingness to collaborate on other immigration issues. On November 18, Trump confirmed his readiness to declare a national emergency to expedite the deportation process, a move criticized by opponents as harmful and illegal.
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